Bloom!

My inspiration for my blog God autism and me turned sixteen this month!

As I look back, I realize the progress we have made is miraculous. My tears are no longer out of frustration but from joy.

I’m not sure exactly when I was able to breathe without fearing a phone call from the school. Yet today, my youngest is increasingly independent and learning to solve problems on his own.

He began this school year taunted by bullies and almost removed from his favorite class because of them. Yet, he finished the year on the honor roll earning the opportunity to play in the marching band next year with his brother.

Somewhere among the midst of IEPs, after school tutoring and endless hours of homework, Lan and I both began to bloom.

We are no longer closed off from others but rather optimistic instead of dreading what lies around the next corner.

Lan’s symptoms haven’t disappeared. However, we now manage them instead of stifle them.

Here are sixteen things God has taught me via autism.

How to improvise

How to find hope in all circumstances.

I am not in control. God’s got this!

How to open my mind up for the improbable

How to open my faith up for the impossible

Love and encouragement produce more than strict regimens

It’s okay not to be okay

I don’t have to be perfect

Perfection doesn’t exist on this earth

What once worked won’t always work.

With God, I am stronger than I ever imagined

My child is tough, resilient, and aware of everything!

How to bend without breaking

Sometimes you just have to make your own way.

Angels are among us in the guise of teachers, counselors and others

God’s not done with us yet!

You see, the photos of the flowers featured here “should” have bloomed nearly two months ago.  My lilies have always bloomed around Easter no matter what. Yet, here they stand blooming far later than usual, lovelier and stronger than ever before.

God autism and me devotional bloom 2015  We can do the same.

Sometimes we give up our joy when we don’t meet expectations created by others. It is easy to close up and fail to discover the gifts God places within us. We can’t acknowledge our talents let alone nurture them if we always focus on the “negatives.”

I challenge you to “open up” to possibilities you may have never considered before. Explore alternatives you may have once dismissed. Dare to reach out to new people and see if God doesn’t reveal fresh solutions to old problems!

With every passing year, my lilies grow taller and stronger. The dormant bulbs weather the frozen ground. Their strong stalks withstand spring storms. Their colorful blooms don’t wilt under the sun.

And that is exactly what God wants for us.

Like lilies, we go through seasons of dormancy where it looks like nothing is happening. But under the warmth of the sun, there is always the potential to produce something beautiful. Unlike the lily, we make the choice either to bloom or withdraw from the Son.

I choose to trust God.

Lan chooses not to be defined by a diagnosis.

What about you?

Choose to Bloom.

By Lilka Finley Raphael

Author, Editor, Gardner, Photographer, Pharmacist

29 comments

    1. Thanks for stopping by! I’m learning there is SO much of God in what most perceive as “dire” circumstances when we take time to examine what is really going on. God’s miracles great and small never cease to amaze me when I stop and take time to look and pay attention to what He is doing.
      All the best to your sister and her son. Her’s is not an easy journey I’m sure but a friend of mine once said God gives certain people the opportunity to see Him where others would only see hardship. And you my friend are another great example. Unshakable Hope says it all! 🙂 Peace to you!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  2. Beautiful post Lilka, and the 16 things God has taught you via Autism, and your young man who is now 16. Whatever trials a person may be facing, they can be drawn upon.

    Thank you for the lesion of the lilies, and the challenge for my own life.

    God bless,

    ~Carl~

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. So glad you could relate Carl. I’ve found my writing on autism tend to spill over into everything else. As always, I appreciate you taking time to stop by, check it out and comment. Hope you have a wonderful weekend! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  5. Hi Lilka, I’m so glad I stopped by. I miss you!!…well, you know through your writings and photography of course. LOL

    What an awesome testimony of God’s goodness and grace. I’m so happy for you, Lan and your season to bloom. Not only that, but look at all of the life lessons you’ve taken away from this experience to share with others. Praise God! The way you describe the progress through your journey and the comparisons to the late blooming lily (which is my favorite flower by the way ;=) reminds me of one of my quotes that says ” It’s simply a blessing to know you’re in a better place than you were before…even if it took you a while to get there.” Lilka, I am so proud of both you and Lan. Also joyful for all that God is doing in and through you. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful testimony. And again good seeing you 😉

    Be A Blessing!

    LaTrice ~ choosing to bloom

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I was quite pleased to “see” you too. I often wonder about my WordPress reader. What I want to see doesn’t appear. When use it lately I’ve been getting rather odd (and profane) post even though my personal settings say otherwise.
      Yes, so glad God is continuing to work on me and Lan. I probably need more work than he does 😉 Sometimes it takes a while but thankfully God keeps us moving along to become better versions of ourselves. Peace and love to you! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  6. Thank you for this uplifting post of faith, courage and trust in God! We need to believe everything comes to us in the right moment. Wish you and your family all the happiness.
    Cheers 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much for taking time to stop by and comment. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. I am continually learning (and relearning) everything “blooms” in God’s timing. B Blessed and peace to you! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  9. Thank you for this post. My brother Stephen has autism and he has gone way beyond the labels placed upon him by doctors back in 1963. At that time doctors told my parents to put him in an institution but my parent said No!! Stephen is now 54, lives in a group home and has a job. Like you I too am doing my best to bring Autism Awareness, as well as get the laws changed in New York and the United States to help developmentally disabled individuals and their families. God Bless you and your family. I reblogged your post on my site. Many Thanks.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. No, thank you! I really enjoyed the article and it raises some serious issues that lawmakers continue to ignore. I was speaking with someone just recently and the number of autism related diagnoses is rapidly increasing. The laws are not keeping up. There is a gaping hole in support services and legislature for people who choose to do the very best they can for their loved ones.
      Lan has vastly surpassed the expectations of others and i do believe it is because God rewards our faith in Him and a refusal to give up.
      Unfortunately the number of people affected by ASD will continue to rise. This is a world wide phenomenon. The more people working to keep this issue in the forefront the sooner more resources will become available. Thanks so much and peace to you!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  10. Pingback: Bloom! | Espiritu en Fuego/A Fiery Spirit

    1. Lisa,
      Thanks so much for your kind words. Like you, I felt the prodding to inspire others to think a little differently and see positive changes in their lives. I began this blog right at two years ago tech impaired and without a clue, but I am grateful God has turned it into more than I ever imagined.

      I’ve received so much love and encouragement here on WP. I sincerely appreciate you taking time to stop by and comment. Peace and Blessings to you! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  13. May our God continue to richly BLESS you, Lan and the rest of your family, and I thank God for giving you the stregnth, wisdom, faith and ability to utilize these challenges to be such a “GREAT BLESSING” to us, your followers. Know that you and yours are always in my prayers sister.

    LOVE…GRACE…PEEACE…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Stacy, thanks so much for your kind words. I intended this blog to offer encouragement to other people but I’ve received far more than I’ve given. Prayers are always appreciated. Thanks for sowing some of the Father’s love on me! Much love and peace to you! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  14. What an amazing story and congrats to you both!

    Yes we are called to blossom and to win. Knowing it’s okay not being perfect is a profound revelation.

    All of God’s attributes reside in our spirit and in due time they will product something beautiful in us that when everyone sees us they know it wasn’t nobody but God.

    Thanks for sharing and have a blessed weekend.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. It’s actually kind of funny that the words found you. I thought I was posting on one site and woke up to find out that I had done so on the other. I think I should probably not write in the wee hours any more! God is good and I can see more and more how He has kept us along the way. Peace and Blessings to you! Enjoy your weekend 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a comment

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

%d bloggers like this: